Relieve Stress with Hatha Yoga at Our Inclusive Community

Staying fit and active involves more than just participating in campus sports or hitting the ARC for personal workouts. It can also mean signing up for classes at Hatha Yoga & Fitness — a popular yoga studio and personal training gym located in Champaign, off-campus.

What Does Hatha Yoga & Fitness Offer?

This fitness studio provides six distinct yoga classes of varying intensities, in addition to barre, pilates, strength foundation, and meditation. The practice at Hatha, which the website explains means “sun-moon” in Sanskrit, is geared towards improving strength, flexibility, and mobility, both physically and emotionally.

Student Instructors at Hatha Yoga & Fitness

Among the team of instructors at Hatha, there are several University students who have found teaching to be a perfect outlet for their passion for yoga and fitness. Many of these students have also discovered a supportive community and career inspiration through their experiences at the studio.

Yoga Sculpt Class

Daria Kuznetsova, a freshman in the DGS, teaches a unique class called “sculpt flow”. This class artfully combines yoga with strength-training exercises like squats, lunges, bicep curls, and core exercises.

“In a yoga sculpt class, everything is choreographed to music, creating a beautiful and almost trance-like experience. By the end of the class, you’re left marveling at the fact that you just completed an hour’s workout,” Kuznetsova said.

Teaching at Hatha has also given Kuznetsova the opportunity to visualize her goal of owning a yoga studio someday.

Hatha: More Than Just Physical Fitness

Emily Jugovich, a junior in AHS and an instructor at Hatha, initially started as a student seeking a way to stay active and manage stress. She found yoga to have a significantly positive impact on her life and wanted to share that experience with others seeking a similar outlet.

The unique blend of physical activity and emotional release that Hatha offers has made it a favorite spot for many in Champaign-Urbana, especially University students. 

While the studio attracts individuals of all genders, it draws a significant number of women looking for a way to stay active while also reducing stress.

Variety of Classes at Hatha Yoga & Fitness

Hatha’s array of classes ensures that it caters to everyone’s unique physical activity requirements. Classes range from more demanding sessions like Ashtanga yoga and advanced sculpt classes to more relaxed movements such as Candlelight or Yin Yoga classes.

“Embracing health and wellness doesn’t mean daily long-distance running. Movement can come in different forms, and it can be enjoyable. It doesn’t have to be something you dread — it can be something you look forward to,” said Gina Kagan, a senior in Business and an instructor at Hatha. She also added that she has found a community at the studio, particularly among fellow University students who regularly attend her classes.